With calculated care, Julius Lineback pieced together the rays of his first Moravian star, wooden pieces clacking together and sharp tips jutting out.
Dating back to a schoolhouse geometry lesson in 1830s Germany, this symbol of worship first came to America when groups of Moravians, including Lineback’s grandparents, settled in Pennsylvania and what would later become Winston-Salem. It wasn’t until years later, however, that the Moravian star made its first physical appearance in the area.
Using pyramid-shaped molds that he found in his accounting office, Lineback experimented until he had crafted a star with 26 rays, launching his career as Winston-Salem’s first and only star maker.
When he died at the age of 95 in 1930, his son Harry carried on the star-making tradition, by then an integral part of the holidays in Winston-Salem. Prompted by a letter to the editor of the Winston-Salem Journal, in 1959 city officials displayed 64 around downtown to celebrate Advent and provide a cheerful reminder of the city’s rich Moravian roots.
Tucked into a historic neighborhood, a backyard in Forsyth County holds hundreds of Southern wildflowers collected by one wild flower woman.
John Champlin has traveled across the state — and the nation — in search of hard-to-find spots that serve an unforgettable hot dog. After 11 years, what he’s discovered goes way beyond the bun.
In the early 20th century, textile mill owners sponsored baseball teams, providing entertainment for their employees and nurturing a passion for the game that’s been handed down through generations of North Carolinians.
Our writer reflects on where his love of vinyl began, and how the snap, crackle, and pop of a needle sliding across a turntable will always satisfy his soul.
